Guides
PrEP or PEP?
They sound alike and do different jobs. PrEP is taken before an exposure to HIV. PEP is started after one. Which you need depends on when.
If something happened in the last 72 hours, this is about PEP, and it is urgent.
PEP has to start within 72 hours of the exposure, and the sooner the better. Kind Clinic is not open yet, so do not wait for us.
Any hospital emergency department can assess you, at any hour. The PEP page lists the other places in Toronto that can start it today.
The difference
PrEP, before
Taken on an ongoing basis by people who are HIV-negative, so the medication is already there if an exposure happens. It is a plan, started at an appointment.
PEP, after
A 28-day course started after a possible exposure. It has to begin within 72 hours, and it works better the sooner it starts.
The question that decides it is when. If something happened in the last three days, PEP is the question, and today. If you are thinking about the months ahead, PrEP is.
If it has already been longer than 72 hours, still get assessed. PEP is no longer the answer, but testing and follow-up are, and the visit is not wasted.
From PEP to PrEP
PEP is meant for emergencies, not as ongoing protection. CATIE, a Canadian HIV information organization, notes that people who find themselves using PEP often might consider PrEP instead.
The end of a PEP course is a natural moment for that conversation, while the reasons are fresh. How to get PrEP in Toronto sets out the steps.
And doxyPEP?
Despite the name, doxyPEP is not about HIV. It is an antibiotic taken after sex to lower the chance of some bacterial STIs, and it is a separate decision from PrEP or PEP.
The doxyPEP page explains where Canadian guidance on it sits.
Where to get each in Toronto
PEP, at any hour
A hospital emergency department. CATIE notes that most, though not all, keep starter packs, so treatment can begin on the spot.
PEP, in clinic hours
Some sexual health clinics. Toronto Public Health lists Hassle Free Clinic, at 66 Gerrard St E, as providing PEP and PrEP.
PrEP
A family doctor or nurse practitioner, or a sexual health clinic that provides it. Toronto Public Health’s own clinics test and treat, but do not provide PrEP or PEP.
Not sure where to go?
The PEP page lists a provincial phone line that can tell you, and the hours it is open.
Common questions
How long do I take PEP for?
28 days, every day. Finishing the course is what makes it work, so if side effects are making that hard, contact your prescriber rather than stopping.
Is it too late after 72 hours?
For PEP, yes. Still get assessed: testing and follow-up are worth doing, and a clinician can tell you what happens next.
Do PrEP or PEP protect against other STIs?
No. Both are specific to HIV. STI testing is part of PrEP follow-up for that reason.
Can I just keep using PEP instead of PrEP?
PEP is designed for emergencies, not as a routine. If you have needed it more than once, PrEP is worth discussing with a clinician.
Sources
Checked against these on 2 October 2026.
HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), CATIE